Join ACIM lecturers at the 900-acre R.W. Ranch spiritual retreat center for an experience of peace and healing. The weekend retreat includes all sessions, well-appointed lodging and six organic meals.
Kenneth Wapnick, Ph.D., a clinical psycho-lo-gist, was a close friend and associate of Helen Schucman and William Thetford, the two Columbia University psychologists who were responsible for scribing A Course in Miracles. He has lectured on the Course extensively and coauthored its Manual for Teachers.
The Center
A Course in Miracles is a self-study spiritual thought system and teaching curriculum. It consists of three books: the Text which lays out the concepts upon which the Course is based; the Workbook for Students which presents 365 daily lessons that emphasize experience over belief in a theology; and the Manual for Teachers which answers questions that arise during study. It has been published in over twenty-five languages. The Foundation for Inner Peace (FIP) was founded to facilitate the study and practice of acim.
The FIP was founded in 1982 by Kenneth Wapnick and his wife, Gloria. Kenneth was a clinical psycholo-gist and a close friend and associate of Helen Schucman and Bill Thetford, the two Columbia University psychologists who joined together to initiate the scribing of A Course in Miracles. He has lectured and taught the Course in the United States and abroad for over forty-five years.
Gloria was a social studies teacher and high school dean of students. She had been working with the Course since 1977 and has conducted her own groups for many years. She has also lectured nationally and internationally on the subject.
While the Course uses Christian terminology, it is not a religion. It is a non-dual spiritual path that draws on universal themes including Eastern spirituality. It teaches that there is no hell, only the searing pain of choosing wrongly and that release from this pain lies in learning to choose differently.
Our experienced staff and a wonderful oasis in Southern California make the retreat center the perfect place for study of the Course. We offer a variety of workshops and events, both in-person and online. Our goal is to teach you how to live the principles of A Course in Miracles and help you heal from fear, anxiety, depression, and addiction.
Our therapeutic approach at Choose Again is based on universal spiritual teachings. Many of our clients find studying ACIM supports their healing process and is an important part of their recovery. Our dedicated staff are available to answer your questions about the course and provide you with resources.
The Course
A Course in Miracles is a spiritual thought system that teaches forgiveness as the way to remember God. The curriculum is comprised of three books: the Text, which lays out the concepts which make up the thought system; the Workbook for Students, which consists of 365 daily lessons that emphasize experience rather than belief in a theology; and the Manual for Teachers, which provides answers to questions that may arise as the student applies the principles of the Course to everyday life.
The Course is not a religion; it does use Christian terminology and symbolism, but the Course states that it can be studied from any religious tradition. Its teachings are not dogmatic, and it is very clear that there are thousands of paths to God. Its goal is to teach the student to forgive themselves and others.
Kenneth Wapnick, who cofounded ACIM with his wife Gloria, received his Ph.D in clinical psychology from Adelphi University and was a close friend of Helen Schucman and William Thetford, the Columbia University psychologists whose collaboration was the initial stimulus for the scribing of A Course in Miracles. He has been involved with the Course since 1973, and has lectured nationally and internationally.
Gloria Wapnick holds a M.A. in History and taught social studies in a New York City high school where she was also Dean of Students. She has been studying and lecturing on A Course in Miracles since 1977.
The purpose of the Foundation for Inner Peace is to teach A Course in Miracles, fostering healing and peace in the world by teaching the principles of the Course through its workshops, courses, and retreats. The corporation has as its specific aims the promotion and dissemination of the teachings of A Course in Miracles, especially their reinterpretation of traditional Christian doctrines such as sin, suffering, forgiveness, and Atonement.
The Teachings
A Course in Miracles, also known as ACIM, is a step-by-step system of spiritual thought. It consists of three books: the Text, which lays out the concepts that make up its thought system; the Workbook for Students, consisting of 365 daily lessons; and the Manual for Teachers, which provides answers to questions frequently asked by students. Each lesson is designed to be completed in a single day, but some choose to take more time with each one.
The course is a non-theistic spiritual teaching that emphasizes love, forgiveness, and healing of self and others. The course's goal is to help its students learn to see the world differently, through God's eyes. Its goal is not to change its students' religious beliefs or morals, but to transform their minds by teaching them to see the world differently.
Its approach is non-dualistic, and it teaches that "a universal theology is impossible, but a universal experience is not only possible but necessary." The Course uses Christian terminology, but it is not a religion; it clearly states that it is only a course in spiritual thought. It is not to replace any other belief system, but rather to correct the false beliefs that are the root cause of all suffering.
Miller explains that while the Course does not claim to be Christian, it does use Christian symbols and references, including Jesus and the Bible, as metaphors for God's unconditional love. The course also claims that Christ is a symbol of the loving, unjudgmental, and peaceful version of the human personality. And it teaches that the atonement is achieved through learning to respond to the world with love, instead of judgment and fear.
It could be said that the Course is the esoteric bible of the “spiritual but not religious” movement, and it has had an enormous influence on the millions of people who have read or studied it. However, its complexity makes it hard for any one to fully understand and apply, so most of its followers join a study group or an organization to get support as they learn to practice the lessons.
The Community
In a time when the world is filled with anger and division, A Course in Miracles offers a way to heal and return to peace. This community, which began in rural Utah in 2009, now has members living simple devotional lives with retreats and events around the country and abroad.
A Course in Miracles is a self-study spiritual thought system comprised of three books: the Text, which lays out the concepts that make up its teaching; the Workbook for Students, which presents the application of these ideas through 365 daily lessons; and the Manual for Teachers, which answers common questions. Although it uses Christian terminology, ACIM is not a religion and makes it clear that there are thousands of paths that lead to God.
Kenneth Wapnick is a clinical psychologist and the cofounder of The Foundation for A Course in Miracles, an organization dedicated to the study and practice of ACIM. He has a Ph.D in Clinical Psychology and was a close associate of Helen Schucman and William Thetford, the two Columbia University psychologists who received the inner dictation that became A Course in Miracles. He first saw the manuscript in 1973 and helped prepare it for publication. He has lectured and taught the Course since its inception, integrating its principles into his psychotherapy practice.
Gloria Wapnick is a social studies teacher and former high school dean of students who has been studying the Course since 1977. She met Wapnick in 1978 and has since lectured and taught the Course both nationally and internationally.